How determined are you?

The snow started falling just after midnight as I slipped into bed and listened to the gusty northeast wind move the walls and windows. By morning, the towering ash tree in our backyard had been transformed into a majestic white birch adorned with a handful of black crows waiting for breakfast. Still coming down hard, the snow signaled a day for tea, soup, and a good book.

As I entered the room where our cats Berty and Wednesday sleep, I watched a big old squirrel crawl into the birdfeeder attac...